Page 9 to Page 1 – How We Boosted Organic Traffic by 500% for a Vancouver Design-Build Firm
When a Vancouver-based design-build firm approached us in early 2024, they faced a common challenge many businesses face. Their impressive reputation for creating custom homes and stunning renovations wasn’t reflected online. Despite being an award-winning company with expertise in interior design and construction, their website was virtually invisible, ranking for only 400 keywords and generating less than 300 clicks per month in organic traffic.
With no SEO strategy in place, the website was riddled with issues that buried keyword rankings, leads and revenue on page 7, 8, 9 and beyond. Yet, the potential was undeniable. Our goal was to position the company as the go-to expert in Vancouver’s competitive design-build space, leveraging SEO to increase visibility, drive organic traffic, and ultimately boost inquiries and bookings.
Over the next several months, we implemented a comprehensive SEO strategy that not only established them as a trusted source of information in the construction and design-build industry.
Organic clicks skyrocketed from 300 in April to 1,820 by November, with significant improvements in keyword rankings, phone calls, and booked meetings.
Here’s how we made it happen.
The Strategy: Building a Foundation for SEO Success
We implemented a multi-phased SEO strategy to address the website’s challenges and position the company as a leader in Vancouver’s design-build space.
This involved tackling technical SEO, optimizing on-page elements, leveraging E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authority, and trust) best practices, and building a robust content strategy tailored to their audience.
The Strategy: Building a Foundation for SEO Success
We implemented a multi-phased SEO strategy to address the website’s challenges and position the company as a leader in Vancouver’s design-build space.
This involved tackling technical SEO, optimizing on-page elements, leveraging E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authority, and trust) best practices, and building a robust content strategy tailored to their audience.
#1 Resolving Technical SEO Issues
Our first priority was to create a solid technical foundation to ensure the website was optimized for search engines and provided a seamless user experience.
Fixing 404 Errors and Redirect Chains
We identified and resolved all broken pages and cleaned up over 400 internal links pointing to redirected URLs, eliminating unnecessary chains and improving link equity. These were identified using an SEO tool called Screaming Frog.
Addressing Duplicate Blog URLs
This website suffered from an issue many WordPress websites have. When creating blog posts, selecting multiple categories ended up creating duplicate URLs.
We fixed URL duplication issues by deselecting multiple blog categories for older posts.
Additionally, we implemented redirects for the affected pages and advised the client to select only one category per blog post moving forward.
Improving Internal Linking via the Navigation and Footer
We updated the website’s navigation menu and footer to feature all key service pages. It’s a simple fix, but you’d be surprised at how many websites and businesses overlook optimizing their header and footer.
This improved user experience and helped search engines crawl and index the site more effectively.
If Google can’t find your key pages, how do you expect Google to rank those pages, and more importantly, how can customers find those pages?
#2 Strengthening On-Page SEO
With technical SEO issues resolved, we shifted our focus to on-page optimization to better align the site’s content with its target keywords and audience intent.
This is the easy part.
Even if you don’t hire an SEO professional, this is something you can take care of yourself.
You can easily find out what the H1 of a page is via the free version of Screaming Frog, and the same goes for your page titles and your meta descriptions.
Optimizing H1 Tags
We ensured that each service page featured a relevant and focused H1 tag that clearly communicated the service offered.
For example, the H1 of a page that targets “Bathroom Renovation Vancouver” can’t be something like “Service”.
It has to be “Bathroom Renovation Vancouver” or include a related keyword.
Refining Metadata for CTAs
We crafted page titles that front-loaded primary keywords and rewrote meta descriptions to include clear calls-to-action, encouraging users to book consultations or request estimates.
#3 Establishing E-E-A-T and Topical Authority
To enhance the company’s credibility and build trust with both users and search engines, we implemented Google’s E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) best practices.
Creating an Engaging About Page
We developed a detailed About page that highlighted the company’s awards, expertise, and leadership in the design-build industry.
Attributing Content to Experts
We assigned authorship to senior employees or industry specialists for each blog post, underscoring the firm’s authority and experience. This means that each article wasn’t uploaded by user007.
The articles had a clear author, and when users read the article, they can easily see the author’s credentials.
#4 Crafting a Hub-Based Content Strategy
The fun, juicy stuff.
Finally, we tackled content creation to drive traffic across all stages of the sales funnel.
From awareness to decision-making.
Developing TOFU, MOFU, and BOFU Content:
We created a mix of content tailored to different stages of the customer journey.
Topics ranged from informational guides (“How Much Does It Cost to Renovate a Kitchen?”) to highly targeted decision-making pieces (“10 Best Kitchen Contractors in Vancouver”).
We used best-in-class SEO tools such as Ahrefs and SEMRush for keyword research, and more importantly, we understood what the local market is like. For example, Vancouver and Metro Vancouver are big on Spice Kitchens. So we made sure to include a guide to spice kitchens.
Here’s an example of what a pillar for kitchens would look like.
“How Much Does It Cost to Renovate a Kitchen?“
“How to Hire a Kitchen Remodel Contractor?“
“10 Best Kitchen Contractors in Vancouver“
“Guide to Spice Kitchens“
“Gas vs. Electric vs. Induction Stove: Pros and Cons“
“Basement Kitchenette Ideas“
“Common Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes to Avoid“
“Kitchen Storage Solutions for Small Spaces“
This is a strategy that worked really well – we even outranked the likes of Forbes, Home Stars, Home Depot and more.
Before we get to the next part, we want to make something really clear.
All of the content created must add value. This content worked because it was high-quality, and people in the market looking for these topics enjoyed reading these articles.
Internal Linking for SEO Impact
We didn’t just create articles and forget about them. There’s more to SEO than that.
Each hub article was linked to its corresponding subtopics and service pages, creating a strong internal link structure. Blog posts were also linked to one another to improve site crawlability and user engagement.
Embedding Clear CTAs
We ensured every article had strategically placed calls to action to encourage readers to book consultations, request quotes or download resources.
The Results? More Traffic, More Leads, More Projects
Our strategic approach to SEO delivered measurable results that far exceeded expectations.
We delivered 500% increase in organic traffic, first page keyword rankings saw 650% growth since we began working on the project.
By addressing technical issues, optimizing on-page elements, and creating high-quality, targeted content, we elevated the company’s online presence and positioned them as a leader in Vancouver’s design-build space.
#1 Keyword Rankings Skyrocketed – 650% YTD Growth
When we started, the website ranked for 400 keywords, with only 6 appearing in the top 3 positions.
Get ready for the receipts.
By November 2024 the site was ranking for nearly 3,000 keywords.
75 keywords achieved top 3 positions, including high-intent terms like:
“Kitchen renovations in Vancouver”
“Bathroom renovation Vancouver”
“Vancouver special renovation”
Additionally, the site dominated cost-related queries with top positions for:
“How much does a bathroom renovation cost?”
“How much does a condo renovation cost?”
“How much does a kitchen renovation cost?”
Buyers in the market were finding the company, and buyers still considering their options were also finding the brand.
#2 500% Organic Traffic Growth
Organic clicks surged from 300 in April 2024 to 1,820 in November 2024, representing a 500% increase in visibility and audience engagement. The site’s improved performance also led to a notable increase in impressions for renovation-related searches.
#3 Boost in Leads and Engagement
The increase in visibility and well-placed CTAs resulted in tangible business outcomes. The traffic and keywords directly resulted in a higher volume of phone calls, consultation requests, and meetings booked through the website.
Ready to Transform Your Website’s Performance?
This case study demonstrates how powerful SEO can be when approached strategically, SEO can be a solid foundation for long-term success. Whether you’re looking to fix technical issues, grow organic traffic, or dominate your industry’s most competitive keywords, we can help.
Contact us today to discuss how we can help you achieve your business goals through SEO.